CARRYING WATER FOR BEIJING: Somebody needs to have a few words with Colin Powell. His recent comments about Taiwan are inexcusable.

“Taiwan is not independent. It does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation, and that remains our policy, our firm policy,” he said.

In Taipei this was regarded as the harshest, most decisive expression of this principle made for some time, at least during the administration of US President George W Bush. And it was a remark that managed to annoy just about everyone, irrespective of where he or she stood on the political spectrum.

I imagine his remarks will annoy just about everyone in this country, as well.

Taiwan is surely the Israel of East Asia. The tiny democracy doesn’t stand a chance in the appeasement-minded court of world opinion against its vastly more populous tyrannical enemy. And because of its size it’s somehow undiplomatic (or whatever the noxious realpolitik rationale is) to recognize its right to exist securely and independently.

I know President Bush doesn’t like to argue with his administration in public, but I think it’s time to make an exception. This is no way to treat a country that should be an ally.

(Hat tip: Harry’s Place.)